Here is an interesting human-interest story about a young speller who chooses not to compete on Sunday. The article excerpts and photo are from the Indianapolis Star–read the complete story here. Huck is from Church of the Good Shepherd in Bloomington, pastored by our friend Tim Bayly.
One of Indiana’s top contenders for the National Spelling Bee title says he’ll sit out the competition this year because his regional bee in Bloomington is scheduled on a Sunday.
Elliot Huck, a 14-year-old from Bloomington who finished 45th out of more than 250 spellers in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., last year, says competing on Sunday conflicts with his view of the biblical commandment to rest on the Sabbath.
Elliot Huck, a 14-year-old from Bloomington who finished 45th out of more than 250 spellers in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., last year, says competing on Sunday conflicts with his view of the biblical commandment to rest on the Sabbath.
“I always try to glorify God with what I do in the spelling bee because he is the one who gave me the talent for spelling,” said Elliot, a student at Lighthouse Christian Academy in Bloomington.
“Now I think I’m going to not spell and try to give glory to God in that.”
The Bloomington Herald-Times newspaper, which sponsors the regional Scripps competition, held the bee on Saturdays the past three years but scheduled this one on a Sunday, March 4. Elliot has won the past two regionals.
Herald-Times publisher E. Mayer Maloney Jr. said it was the only date that fit “several considerations.” He declined to discuss the factors involved.